Dubai Police arrest two suspects over phone scams that took about Dh11.9m

Centre · 2Dubai Police's Anti-Fraud Centre arrested two suspects accused of running phone scams that defrauded residents of nearly Dh11.9 million. 1 2 Centre · 2Gulf News gives the total loss as Dh11,877,532, while The National reports it as more than Dh11.8 million ($3.2 million). 1 2 Centre · 2Police said the callers impersonated representatives of official and international organisations and told victims they were named in legal cases outside the UAE. 1 2

Centre · 2Victims were threatened with legal consequences and told to transfer money to overseas bank accounts so the funds could be verified, with a promise that it would be returned afterwards. 1 2 Centre · 2Some victims were persuaded to sell gold jewellery and send the proceeds after being told earlier transfers were not enough. 1 2 Centre · 2The fraudsters also told victims to book hotel rooms and avoid contact with others until they were cleared, a tactic police said was meant to isolate them and prolong the fraud. 1 2

Centre · 2After receiving reports, Dubai Police formed a task force within the Anti-Fraud Centre to analyse complaints and trace the money, which led to the two suspects, and legal action was started against them. 1 2 Centre · 2The suspects reportedly admitted involvement and said an entity outside the country had recruited them through social media, then supplied victims' details and instructions through an app. 1 2 Centre · 1Gulf News adds that the suspects were paid a commission for each successful fraud, and that they received communication scripts. 1

Centre · 2Police examined the suspects' seized phones and found victims' data and conversations linked to the fraud. 1 2 Centre · 2Dubai Police urged residents to be wary of unsolicited calls or messages from people claiming to represent official bodies, to verify them through official channels, and to report fraud via the eCrime platform or by calling 901. 1 2